Pagan
/ˈpeɪɡən/noun
A person who follows a religion that is different from the main world religions and that existed before these religions.
The ancient Romans were pagans who worshiped many gods.
Often appears as...
- pagan religions
- pagan beliefs
Usage tips
Neutral
adjective
Relating to a religion that worships many gods, especially one that existed before the main world religions.
Pagan rituals often involve celebrating the cycles of nature.
Often appears as...
- pagan gods
- pagan ceremonies
Usage tips
Neutral
noun
A person who has no religion or whose religion is not Christianity, Judaism, or Islam.
People who didn't convert to Christianity were considered pagans in the Middle Ages.
Often appears as...
- pagans persecuted
- pagans converted
Usage tips
Disapproving
Historical
noun
A person who follows a religion that is different from the main world religions and that existed before these religions.
The ancient Romans were pagans who worshiped many gods.
Often appears as...
- pagan religions
- pagan beliefs
Usage tips
Neutral
adjective
Relating to a religion that worships many gods, especially one that existed before the main world religions.
Pagan rituals often involve celebrating the cycles of nature.
Often appears as...
- pagan gods
- pagan ceremonies
Usage tips
Neutral
noun
A person who has no religion or whose religion is not Christianity, Judaism, or Islam.
People who didn't convert to Christianity were considered pagans in the Middle Ages.
Often appears as...
- pagans persecuted
- pagans converted
Usage tips
Disapproving
Historical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Polytheistic Religions
Pagan often refers to polytheistic religions, those with many gods.
Hinduism is often considered a pagan religion due to its polytheism.
Pro Tip 2/3Pre-Christianity Context
Use 'pagan' to describe ancient religions that predate Christianity.
Norse mythology is a collection of stories from pagan Scandinavia.
Pro Tip 3/3Modern Usage
'Pagan' can also describe contemporary followers of old or earth-based religions.
She identifies as a pagan and celebrates the solstices.
Compare with
heathenhereticinfidel
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Video examples
Where do superstitions...
this tradition survived long after belief in these spirits had faded away. Many superstitions common today in countries from Russia to Ireland are thought to be remnants of the pagan religions that Christianity replaced. But not all superstitions are religious.
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
And since the existence of a medieval Roman Empire suggested there were Europeans who’d never lost touch with antiquity, Western Europeans wanted to draw clear lines between the ages. To better distinguish the classical, Latin-speaking, pagan Roman Empire
Video examples
The ballet that incited...
pushing folk and musical boundaries to draw out the rawness of pagan ritual. Stravinsky brought this reverie to life in collaboration with artist Nicholas Roerich. Roerich was obsessed with prehistoric times. He had published essays about human sacrifice
Video examples
The ancient origins of...
But all good things must end. In 391 AD, the Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius banned pagan practices, so the world soon bid a fond farewell to the Olympic games. But just like those early pankration athletes, you can't keep a good one down,
Video examples
Halloween History PIPE...
on saw 1 the villagers gathered and lit huge bonfires to drive the dead back to the spirit world and keep them away from the living but as the Catholic Church's influence grew in Europe it frowned on the pagan rituals like Sawin in the 7th
Video examples
Iceland Is Growing New...
Service and say I've got a shelter a wall that I want to build I need some planning for my summer cabin or I want to build a pagan church can you help us and we say well yes we can we're producing wood now of vision boards and
Video examples
How did Dracula become...
and persisted despite the church's efforts to eliminate pagan beliefs. Stories of vampires originated from misinterpretations of diseases, such as rabies, and pellagra, and decomposition.
Video examples
"We Are the Halluci...
We have been called hostile We have been called pagan We have been called militant We have been called many names
Video examples
Wicca PIPE National...
today in England witchcraft and it's more modern incarnation Wicca are pagan
Video examples
Crop Circle Mystery PIPE...
renowned for pagan rituals we'll chair is cloaked in centuries of
Video examples
Where do superstitions...
this tradition survived long after belief in these spirits had faded away. Many superstitions common today in countries from Russia to Ireland are thought to be remnants of the pagan religions that Christianity replaced. But not all superstitions are religious.
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
And since the existence of a medieval Roman Empire suggested there were Europeans who’d never lost touch with antiquity, Western Europeans wanted to draw clear lines between the ages. To better distinguish the classical, Latin-speaking, pagan Roman Empire
Video examples
The ballet that incited...
pushing folk and musical boundaries to draw out the rawness of pagan ritual. Stravinsky brought this reverie to life in collaboration with artist Nicholas Roerich. Roerich was obsessed with prehistoric times. He had published essays about human sacrifice
Video examples
The ancient origins of...
But all good things must end. In 391 AD, the Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius banned pagan practices, so the world soon bid a fond farewell to the Olympic games. But just like those early pankration athletes, you can't keep a good one down,
Video examples
Halloween History PIPE...
on saw 1 the villagers gathered and lit huge bonfires to drive the dead back to the spirit world and keep them away from the living but as the Catholic Church's influence grew in Europe it frowned on the pagan rituals like Sawin in the 7th
Video examples
Iceland Is Growing New...
Service and say I've got a shelter a wall that I want to build I need some planning for my summer cabin or I want to build a pagan church can you help us and we say well yes we can we're producing wood now of vision boards and
Video examples
How did Dracula become...
and persisted despite the church's efforts to eliminate pagan beliefs. Stories of vampires originated from misinterpretations of diseases, such as rabies, and pellagra, and decomposition.
Video examples
"We Are the Halluci...
We have been called hostile We have been called pagan We have been called militant We have been called many names
Video examples
Wicca PIPE National...
today in England witchcraft and it's more modern incarnation Wicca are pagan
Video examples
Crop Circle Mystery PIPE...
renowned for pagan rituals we'll chair is cloaked in centuries of
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
When General Allenby conquered Jerusalem during World War I, he was hailed in the American press as Richard the Lion-Hearted, who had at last won the Crusades and driven the pagans out of the Holy Land.
Quote examples
Liz Williams
British Author
There are a few people who are, let's say, personality-challenged, who would like to set up a cult, but in large part they fail due to the innate stroppiness and independence of their fellow pagans.
Quote examples
Jay Parini
American Writer
Christmas is a story that has both religious and pagan origins, and to ignore its power is to ignore the power of myth - those symbols and legends that help us to ground our lives.
Quote examples
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
French Philosopher
The pagan loves the earth in order to enjoy it and confine himself within it; the Christian in order to make it purer and draw from it the strength to escape from it.
Quote examples
Mother Angelica
American Educator
To a pagan, there is no purpose to suffering. As a result, he lives a life of loneliness and frustration.
Quote examples
Lord Byron
British Poet
There is something pagan in me that I cannot shake off. In short, I deny nothing, but doubt everything.
Quote examples
Damon Albarn
English Musician
I enjoyed history at school. I'd always had a sense of pagan England.
Quote examples
Steve Earle
American Musician
Funerals are a pagan rite. There's not any doubt about it.
Quote examples
Matt Skiba
American Musician
I consider myself a pagan and a witch.
Quote examples
V. E. Schwab
American Author
I'm pagan.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
When General Allenby conquered Jerusalem during World War I, he was hailed in the American press as Richard the Lion-Hearted, who had at last won the Crusades and driven the pagans out of the Holy Land.
Quote examples
Liz Williams
British Author
There are a few people who are, let's say, personality-challenged, who would like to set up a cult, but in large part they fail due to the innate stroppiness and independence of their fellow pagans.
Quote examples
Jay Parini
American Writer
Christmas is a story that has both religious and pagan origins, and to ignore its power is to ignore the power of myth - those symbols and legends that help us to ground our lives.
Quote examples
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
French Philosopher
The pagan loves the earth in order to enjoy it and confine himself within it; the Christian in order to make it purer and draw from it the strength to escape from it.
Quote examples
Mother Angelica
American Educator
To a pagan, there is no purpose to suffering. As a result, he lives a life of loneliness and frustration.
Quote examples
Lord Byron
British Poet
There is something pagan in me that I cannot shake off. In short, I deny nothing, but doubt everything.
Quote examples
Damon Albarn
English Musician
I enjoyed history at school. I'd always had a sense of pagan England.
Quote examples
Steve Earle
American Musician
Funerals are a pagan rite. There's not any doubt about it.
Quote examples
Matt Skiba
American Musician
I consider myself a pagan and a witch.
Quote examples
V. E. Schwab
American Author
I'm pagan.
Example 1 of 10
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